The National Indigenous Fashion Awards

By slowing down and celebrating clothes as culture, there’s a lot we can learn and celebrate about Indigenous designers and the work they do. 

The introduction of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards this year takes us one step closer to putting these talented artists, deservedly, on the map. Broadcasted live via NITV’s social media earlier this evening, the event showcased collections and designs from leading and emerging First Nations artists, and celebrated their innovation, diversity and ethical practices. The inaugural event saw 33 designers and artists nominated across six categories. 

Fashion is a medium which transcends cultural boundaries, and can be the vehicle to bring people together to celebrate Australia’s rich heritage and vibrant cultures.

Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective was the big winner of the night, picking up both the Fashion Design Award and the Community Collaboration Award for her work with Mary Dhapalany Mangul, Margaret Djarbaalabal Malibirr and Evonne Muyuyngu of Bula’bula Art. The judges spoke highly of her “optimistic use of colour” and the process of cultural knowledge sharing evident within her collections.

IMAGE: IDENTITY COLLECTION BY MAARA COLLECTIVE. PHOTO BY CYBELE MALINOWSKI. 

Up against some strong competition, Peggy Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts was awarded the Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award for her Legacy Dress and praised for her strong cultural leadership and mentorship. The Textile Design Award was presented to Kieren Karritpul with judges also commending him for his “ability to tell stories through textiles and bring about a truly emotional experience”.

IMAGE: PEGGY GRIFFITHS AND THE LEGACY DRESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRACE LILLIAN LEE AND CHRIS BAKER. 

IMAGE: BEDE TUNGUTALUM SHOWCASE AT 2019 COUNTRY TO COUTURE. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKLEE. 

Elsewhere, Ninti One were celebrated for their protection of artistic, creative and cultural works with the Environmental and Social Contribution Award and senior artist Bede Tungutaalum was awarded the Special Recognition Award. The judges congratulated Bede on his “outstanding breadth of work over many decades, and his strong cultural leadership and vision as a senior artist within his community, nationally and internationally”.

“The NIFA presents an amazing opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our First Nations Peoples through fashion and textiles,” Foundation Executive Director, Claire Summers, said. 

“Showcasing vibrant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions in new contemporary forms enables us to share the powerful stories which have connected Australia’s First Nations Peoples to this country since time immemorial,” NIFA Creative Director, Nina Fitzgerald, added. “Fashion is a medium which transcends cultural boundaries, and can be the vehicle to bring people together to celebrate Australia’s rich heritage and vibrant cultures.”

IMAGE: DESIGN WITHIN COUNTRY.

Huge congrats to all those nominated and of course the winners – here’s to seeing more Indigenous fashion on the world stage!

Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award 

Recognises worn items, created as fine or expressive art, used to define or express culture.

WINNER: Peggy Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts

Lillardya Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi

Jan Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts

Debra Beale of Debra Beale Jewellery at Boomalli Art Gallery

Lisa Waup

Textile Design Award

Includes designs of woven, knitted or other textile constructions, as well as dyed, printed or surface ornamented textiles.

WINNER: Kieren Karritpul from Merrepen Arts Language & Culture

Lillardia Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi

Ivy Nargoodah, Eva Nargoodah and Margaret Albert of Rukaji Designs from Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency

Dymphna Kerinauia, Kaye Brown, Michelle Woody, Nina Lydwina Puruntatameri, Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, and Bernadette Mungatopi at North, from Munupi Association Arts and Crafts Association, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association & Ngaruwanajirri Arts

Ikuntji Artists

Selina Nadjowh from Injalak Arts Centre

Community Collaboration Award

Recognition of effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.

WINNER: Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective with Bula’bula Aboriginal Corporation

Hopevale Art x QUT with Guuliil of Hope Vale Arts and Cultural Centre

People, Culture & Country, a QLD State Schools Art Project

Babbarra Women’s Centre with Publisher Textiles

Lisa Gorman (Gorman) and Tommy May, Sonia Kurarra, Daisy Japulija, Nada Rawlins, Lisa Uhl from Mangkaja Arts

Marnin Studio Women’s Resource Centre with Design Within Country

Ikuntji Artists with Magpie Goose

Kaiela Arts Artists with Spacecraft Studio

Tennant Creek Aunties for Rise-Ngurratjuta

Environmental and Social Contribution Award

Excellence and leadership in environmental and social development understanding, and practice in relation to textiles and fashion.

WINNER: Ninti One Limited

Anindilyakwa Arts for Bush Dye

Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim

Perina Drummond for Jira Models

Special Recognition Award

For a group, organisation, or individual that has shown exceptional contribution to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion.

WINNER: Bede Tungutalum

Lenore Dembski for Paperbark Woman

Perina Drummond for Jira Models

Grace Lillian Lee

Selina Nadjowh for Injalak Arts

Fashion Design Award

Recognises a commercial fashion label with a minimum of two collections of original design of clothing, jewellery or accessories.

WINNER: Julie Shaw for MAARA Collective

Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim

Denni Francisco for Ngali

Cheryl Creed for Murrii Quu Couture

TOP IMAGE: MAARA COLLECTIVE BY CYBELE MALINOWSKI.